The Varmus lab uses several experimental approaches to understand the molecular mechanisms of oncogenesis.   In the past, we have studied a variety of cancer types, including breast, ovarian, brain, and hematological cancers, but our recent work has focused principally on lung adenocarcinomas---cell lines, mouse models, and tumors from patients.   Some of the questions we are currently asking include: What is the significance of mutant splicing factors in tumorigenesis?   How do certain oncogenic mutations conspire to produce synthetic lethality?  What combinations of target cells and mutations that initiate the oncogenic process determine cancer cell phenotypes? And which cell functions are required to maintain the oncogenic state?

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